Driver pleads guilty to driving 182 km/h on Highway 33

BARRHEAD - A woman with a history of having a heavy foot received a substantial fine for speeding on a Barrhead-area highway in the spring.

Justice Bruce Garriock gave Stephanie Dawn Sebastian a $2,000 fine and a 21-day driving suspension, accepting a joint Crown-defence submission on Dec. 13 during a Barrhead Court of Justice session after she pleaded guilty to exceeding the maximum posted speed.

The provincial traffic Crown prosecutor Mark Fosiey stated that on June 15, 2024, police clocked the accused driving a 2012 Dodge Challenger northbound on Highway 33 at 182 km/h in a 100 km/h zone.

"The road is a paved, undivided highway, and she passed several vehicles," he said, adding that there were no adverse weather or road conditions at the time of the offence.

The Crown added that Sebastian has a history of speeding, saying she has had five previous speeding convictions in the last five years, including one for 30 km/h over the posted speed limit, two for 20 km/h over the posted speed limit, and one for 28 and 34 km/h over the posted speed limit.

"In 2023, the accused completed a demerit course," he said.

Fosiey also noted that since 1994, Sebastian has had three demerit driver's licence suspensions.

Defence counsel interjected that he had instructed his client to surrender her licence immediately.

Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com